Knitting machine



Dec. 9, 1924- W. C. ADAMS KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb,

Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM C. ADAMS; or

ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS.

KNITTING MACHINE.

Application filed February 7, 1923.

To all 20/10/20 it may concern.

Be it known that 1 VVILL'IAM C. Amine, a citizen of the United States, residing at Attleboro. in the county of Bristol and State of hlassachusetts, have invented new and useful Inn'rrovement in Knitting Machines, of which the "following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved knitting machine.

The object of the invention is to provide a knitting machine which can be operated by hand to produce a tubular knitted fabric the same being particularly adapted for use by children to accurately knit a tubular fabric in a neat, expeditious and workmanlike manner.

The invention consists primarily in a knitting machine embodying a needle carrier with a series of knitting needles slidably mounted thereon, which is slidably and rotatably mounted in aholder, and means for imparting a reciprooatory movement to tne needles relatively to the needle carrier.

The invention further consists in the combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation. of my improved knitting machine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly broken away and shown in section as viewed from the right of Fig. 1, showing the needle carrier moved upwardly from the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the knitting machine.

Fig. at is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1 illustrating one step in threading up the machine when the knitting operation is first started.

Fig. 5 'is a plan view illustrating still fun ther the manner in which the machine is threaded up preparatory to knitting the tube.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the drawings. 5 is the needle carrier, which in this embodiment of my invention consists of a cylindrical member, preferably of wood, which extends entirely through a holder 6 and projects to a substantial distance below said holder to form a handle 7 by means 01" which the needle carrier 5 may be rotated and recipro ated upon the holder 6." The needle carrier is provided with a Serial No. 617,483.

plurality of slots 8, in this case four in number. which extend longitudinally thereof and form guideways in which are slidably mounted a plurality of latch needles 9. Each of the latch needles is provided with a butt 10 extending laterally thereof and beyond the periphery of the needle carrier 5, and above the upper end of the holder a metal band 11 encircles the carrier 5 and is fast thereto. This band serves to confine the needles in the slots 8 and further forms a stop to prevent the needles from moving be yond a certain distance in one direction relatively to the needle carrier. The needles are prevented from moving beyond a certain distance downwardly or relatively to the holder 6 by the butts 10 thereof engaging the upper end of the needle holder.

The needle carrier 5 is provided with an annular groove 12 in which is located an elastic band 13 which helps to position the needles in the grooves and supplies a triotion to prevent the needles moving in their respective grooves except when caused to do so by positive means such as the engagement: of the butts by the annular band 11, or by the upper end of the holder 6.

A bracket 14 is fastened to the holder 6 and has a laterally extending arm 15 at its upper end which projects over the upper end of the holder and is adapted to be engaged successively by the butts of the needles 9 during the operation of the machine, whereby it an upward movement is given to the carrier, one of the needles will be held against movement therewith and thus will be caused a reciprocatory movement of the carrier relatively to the needle.

The latch needles 9 are of the usual wellknown construction and the carrier is made tubular to allow the knitted tube 16 to feed downwardly therethrough.

The yarn 17 is fed to the machine from a ball or from a bobbin, as may be desired, (not shown in the drawings) and passes through a tension device 18 formed by a screw eye which may be turned at different angles to increase or diminish the tension on the yarn. From the tension device 18 the yarn passes upwardly and through the upper end of a yarn guide 19 consisting of a flat strip with an eye 20 at its upper end. This yarn guide is fastened rigidlyto the holder 6.

During the operation of the device the carr er is guided by a lateral projection 26 holder 6 is bevelled on an outer face 6 there of from. a point immediately adjacent the bore of the holder and the needle carrier which slides in said bore. It will be seen. that by this construction it a latch becomes 1 broken or if the needle becomes bent or ii? for any reasonit is desired to remove the needle from the carrier and to insert a new needle in its place, that the carrier may be moved upwardly to the extent of its upward movement that is, until the projection 20 arrives at the upper end of one of the slots, such as 27, and then the needle can be removed by grasping it by the butt and moving the butt outwardly and downwardly out of the carrier. The needle can also be inserted in the carrier in the same way and this construction enables the operator to easily replace the needles without taking the carrier out of the holder.

The general operation of the mechanism hereinbefore specifically described is as followsz rlssuming the different parts of the machine to be in the relative positions illustrated in Fig. 4;, the yarn is passed upwardly through the tension device 18 and through the eye 20, the. free end of the yarn being attached to the eye 31 of a weight 30 which is similar in construction to an ordinary fish line sinker, and this weight, together with the yarn 1'7, is then dropped down through the bore- 32 of the needle carrier. The yarn should extend at least six inches below the end of the carrier at this stage oi? the threadingoperation. The carrier is held in the right hand and at the same time the holder is held at its extreme top. This will insure that all the needles are up while starting to thread the yarn into them. The next step in the threading operation is to take the yarn as it comes from the guide 19 and thread it in the needles as illustrated in Fig. 5 by winding it around the needles as shownv First it is passed from the back of the needle 33 around the same in a counterclockwise direction, thence to the needle 21 and around that needle in a counterclockwise direction. then to the needle 23 and around that needle in a counterclockwise direction and then around the needle 2st in a counterclockwise direction drawing the yarn through the guide hole 20 in order to provide sufiicient yarn to perform this threading operation.

The next step in the threading operationv is to pull down on the end of the yarn which. has been passed through the carrier until the loops on the needles are all drawn down againstthe top of the carrier. .it this time care must be taken that all the needle latches are down. Now turn the carrier until the needle 33 is at the front or under the arm 15. Be sure that the yarn from the guide is in the hook of needle 33 and that the yarn from the guide to the tension is taut. The needles now being threaded with the yarn. and assuming the parts to be in the relative positions illustrated in Fig. 1 with the yarn extending from the needle 21 across the needle 2-2 outside its latch 23 and across the needle 24: beneath the hook thereof suitable tension is given to the yarn 17 by the tension device 18. Tension is also im' parted to the yarn which extends down through the carrier by allowing it to pass between two lingers of the hand of the operator which at this time grasps the handle portion 7 of the carrier. The knitting op eration is then performed as follo\\s:'lhe holder (3 is supported by the other hand of the nperator. The operator now pushes the carrier upwardly while holding the holder 6 statiomiry and the 1')i.'ojection it) enters one of the slots. 27. and passes upwardly therein until it arrives at the upper end oi the slot. this end of the slot being closed constitutes a stop to limit the upward mo\'cmom ot' the carrier rclativelv to the holder by reason oi? the n'ojection 2o abutting against the upper end thereof.

it will be evident that during this mow. meat. the butt.- oi. the needle 22 will engage the in dersidc oi? the arm '15 on the braclnit l-l and said needle will therefore be held stationary while thc carrier is moving up wardly. thus the needle 22 will at this time be caused to form a loop in the yarn l7 and this loop oil yarn will be drawn through the previous loop which hangs upon said needle -9. thus forming the knitting stitch.

The next motion oi? the operator is to move the carrier downwardly until the projection 26 passes out of the slot 27. .\t this time the needle 22 will occupy the position relatively to the carrier shown in Fig. l.

The next step in the operation is performed by the operator rotating the carrier in the direction of the arrow Fig. l. a quarter turn. whereupon the butt of the needle will pass out from under the stop arm 15 and the butt oi the needle 24- will pass under said stop. The projection 26 is now in alignment with another of the slots 2?. namely, the slot 28. Fig. 1. and the operation is again repeated.

During the knitting o eration hereinbetore described. when the needle carrier is moved upwardly all of the needles move with except the needle the butt of which is beneath the stop 15. and these needles are held in frictional engagement with the car ricr by the elastic band 1.3-. so that they travel with it during its upward movement.

.l/uring the downward lllQVQlllOllt of the Inn carrier. the needles travel with the carrier with the exception of the needle whose butt in engagement with the stop arm 15 and are carried positively downward against the upper end of the holder (3 by the band 11 fast to the carrier as illustrated in Fig. 1.

After each loop has been formed and drawn through the preceding loop. the quarter rotation is given to the needle carrier, hereinhefore described. and then the reciprocatory movement is imparted thereto. Thus it will be seen that by alternately imparting to the needle carrier a reciproca-tory and rotary movement... the tubular knitted fabric 16 will he knitted.

I claim 1. A knittine; machine having, in combination. a needle carrieiu a series of knitting needles slidahly nmunted thereon. a holder in which said carrier rotatahly and slid ably mounted and means to guide said carrier while an alternate rotating and slidahle motion is being imparted thereto.

2. A knittingmachine having. in combination. a needle carrier. a series of knittin; needles slidahly mounted thereon. a holder in which said carrier is rotatably and slidably mounted and a stop on said holder adapted to he successively engaged by said needles to hold them stationary relatively to said holder when a reciprocatory movement is imparted to said carrier.

:3. A knitting machine having. in. comhination. a cylindrical needle carrien a series oi knitting needles slidably mounted therezun a holder in which said carrier rotatablv and slidahly mounted, said cylindrical needle carrier extending entirely through and below said holder, a lateral projection on said carrier positioned to engage the lower end of said holder, a plurality of slots being provided in said holder and opening out oi the bottom thereof to receive said projt-iction. whereby said carrier may he guided while an alternate rotating and sliding" motion is being imparted thereto.

i. A knitting; machine having, in combination. a cylindrical needle carrier, a series of knitting needles slid-ably mounted thereon. a holder in which said carrier is rotatablv and slidably mounted, said cylindrical, needle carrier extending; entirely through and below said holder. a lateral proiect on on said carrier positioned to engage the lower end of said holder. a plurality of s ots heins! provided in said holder and opening out of the bott m thereof, whereby said carrier n'iay b .e'uided while an a ternate rota ng and sliding motion. is being in'i 'iarted thereto and means on said holder adapted t be successively engaged by said ru e l es to hold them stationary relatively to sa d holde when a recinrocatory movei'ient is imparted to said carrier.

A knitting machine having, in co1nbi nation. a cylindrical needle carrier, a series of knitting needles slidably mounted thereon. a holder in which said carrier is rotatahly and slidably n'lounted, said cylindrical needle carrier extending entirely through and below said holder, a lateral projection on said carrier positioned to engage the lower end of said holder, a plurality of slots being provided in said holder and opening out of the bottom thereof, whereby said carrier may be guided while an alternate rotating and sliding motion is being imparted thereto and a bracket fast to said holder and adapted to be successively engaged by the butts of said needles to hold them stationaiy relatively to said holder when a reciproratory movement is imparted to said carrier.

(3. A. knitting machine having. in combination. a cylindrical needle carrier. a series of lmitting; needles slidahly mounted thereon. a holder in which said carrier is rotatahly and slidably mounted, said cylindrical needle carrier extending entirely through and below said holder. a lateral projection on said carrier positioned to engage the lowor end of said holder. a plurality of slots being provided in said holder closed at the upper end thereot and opening; out of the bottom oi said holder to receive said projection whereby said carrier may be guided while an alteriiiate rotating and sliding motion being imparted thereto.

7. A knitting machine having. in combination, a needle carrier, a series of knitting needles slidably mounted thereoin a holder in which said carrier is rotatably and slidably mounted and a stop on said holder adapted to he successively engaged by the butts oi said needles to hold them station ary relatively to said holder when a. reciprocatory movement is imparted to said carrier while allmving said carrier to be rotated at the tern'iination of each reciprocatory move ment.

8. A knitting machine having. in combination, a needle carrier. a series of knitting needles slidably mounted thereon. each of said needles having a butt extending lat-erally from the shank thereof and projectingbeyond the periphery of said carrier, a band encirclii'in' said carrier above said needle butts. means to hold said needles in frict onal engra 'en'ient with said carrier and a stop on said holder adapted to be successively engaged by said needles to hold them stationary relatively to said holder when an upward reci 'irocatory HlOVGlTlGIlt is imparted to said carrier, said needle butts being adapted to engage the upper end of said h der during the downward movement of said carrier. whereby said needles may be reciprocated relatively thereto.

9. A knitting machine having. in combination, a cylindrical needle carrier, a series of knitting needles slidahly mounted there.- on aholder in which said carrier is rotatahly and slidably mounted, said cylindrical needle carrier extending entirely through and below said holder, the lower end of said carrier eonstituting a handle whereby it may be manipulated and means to guide tar 'ier While an alternate rotating and sliding motion is being imparted thereto.

10. ll knitting machine having, in combination, a needle carrier, a series ott knitting needles slidahly mounted thereon. a holder in which said carrier is slidahly and rotat ably mounted. means to guide said carrier while an alternate rotary and slidahle motion is impart-ed thereto and a yarn guide stationary relatively to said holder, whereby yarn may he guided to said needles.

ll A knitting machine having, in combination. a needle carrier, a series of knitting needles slidahly mounted thereon, a holder in which said carrier is slidably and rotatably mounted, means to guide said carrier while an alternate rotary and slidahle motion imparted thereto. a yarn guide stationary relatively to said holder, whereby yarn may he guided to said needles and a tension device stationary relatively to said holder, whereby yarn may be fed to said needles under tension.

12. A knitting machine having, in combination, a needle carrier, a series of knitting needles slidahly mounted thereon, a carrier holder in which said carrier is rotatably and slidahly mounted and means to guide said carrier while an alternate rotary and slidahle motion is being imparted thereto, an outer face of said carrier holder being bevelled from a point adjacent the. carrier outwardly and downwardl therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two suhserihing witnesses.

\VILLIAM ADAMS.

Witnesses:

Fimmgii n E. Low, .Kxrmn'x M. Joro c. 

